Wizard's Report Card, Mid-Season: The Lesser-Knowns
Let it be said here that the flu is an unrelenting foe. Nevertheless, with the Wizards most recent win of the disjointed 76ers, now's the best time for me to get back in the groove and talk about the Lesser-Knowns: Andray Blatche, Calvin Booth, Peter Ramos, Awvee Storey and Donell Taylor.
The Lesser-Knowns
Andray Blatche is basically "The High School Experiment: Take Two." This time the Wizards want to get things right and not have another Kwame Brown on their hands. If he becomes a reliable post defender and nothing else, it'll be a wash (with the exception of his personality). It he develops any offensive moves, Eddie and Ernie will be heralded and Kwame bashed even more than when he was here. Grade: Incomplete
Calvin Booth was with the Wizards before the first (Michael) Jordan Era, and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks (along with Juwan Howard and others) for Etan Thomas (and others). He's a decent shot-blocker and semi-talented offensively, but wasn't worth the crazy contract he had with Dallas (and then Seattle). Still has the chance to be a poor man's Marcus Camby (sans the injuries) and that's actually a good thing. Grade: C-
Peter Ramos is the odd-big-man-out on a team that obviously likes its smaller players. At 7'3" he could easily turn a game around-once he's polished off, that is. Once he's ready, it could spell doom for Brendan Haywood, Thomas and (probably) Michael Ruffin. For the time being he'll continue to be labeled "a project." Grade: Incomplete
Avwee Story got a start recently, and that is always good for a player's ego. He's got the versatility that Eddie Jordan & Co. like in their swingmen. Still has to learn the NBA, though. Grade: Incomplete
Donell Taylor saw his minutes go up with the departure of Chucky Atkins, and has been compared to Larry Hughes (albeit a younger, less polished version). But he's still a rookie. Grade: Incomplete
Hopefully, over the next few weeks I can flesh these guys out more. If not by then, there's always the summer.
The Lesser-Knowns
Andray Blatche is basically "The High School Experiment: Take Two." This time the Wizards want to get things right and not have another Kwame Brown on their hands. If he becomes a reliable post defender and nothing else, it'll be a wash (with the exception of his personality). It he develops any offensive moves, Eddie and Ernie will be heralded and Kwame bashed even more than when he was here. Grade: Incomplete
Calvin Booth was with the Wizards before the first (Michael) Jordan Era, and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks (along with Juwan Howard and others) for Etan Thomas (and others). He's a decent shot-blocker and semi-talented offensively, but wasn't worth the crazy contract he had with Dallas (and then Seattle). Still has the chance to be a poor man's Marcus Camby (sans the injuries) and that's actually a good thing. Grade: C-
Peter Ramos is the odd-big-man-out on a team that obviously likes its smaller players. At 7'3" he could easily turn a game around-once he's polished off, that is. Once he's ready, it could spell doom for Brendan Haywood, Thomas and (probably) Michael Ruffin. For the time being he'll continue to be labeled "a project." Grade: Incomplete
Avwee Story got a start recently, and that is always good for a player's ego. He's got the versatility that Eddie Jordan & Co. like in their swingmen. Still has to learn the NBA, though. Grade: Incomplete
Donell Taylor saw his minutes go up with the departure of Chucky Atkins, and has been compared to Larry Hughes (albeit a younger, less polished version). But he's still a rookie. Grade: Incomplete
Hopefully, over the next few weeks I can flesh these guys out more. If not by then, there's always the summer.
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